ONTARIO ISSUES

[MAY 2015]

The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,553 Ontario

residents by Smart IVR on May 25th, 2015.
Mainstreet surveyed a mix of landlines and cell phones.
Margin of error +/- 1.94%, 19/20.

ONTARIANS GRADE PUBLIC EDUCATION A B; SUPPORT TEACHERS

May 27th, 2015. A new Mainstreet Technologies poll of 2,553 Ontarians finds support for back to
work legislation - though Ontarians side with teachers over the provincial government. When
Ontarians were asked to grade Ontarios education system most awarded a B. The poll carries a
margin of error of +/- 1.94%, 19/20.
"A majority of Ontarians support the back to work legislation being debated in the legislature but
that support is lower in the three areas affected by current strikes, said Quito Maggi, president of
Mainstreet Technologies. Though the strikes have now been ruled illegal, there are far ranging
consequences for the upcoming school year if a new contract cant be signed over the summer.
There is good news for both sides from our findings. The good news for the government is that a
majority of Ontarians support back to work legislation and think teachers are compensated fairly.
The good news for teachers is that a majority support the union in the dispute, especially in the
areas most affected by the strikes. Ontarians are also opposed to lifting the cap on class sizes.
"Most Ontarians are content with the public education system, awarding a B grade - though one in
four Ontarians grade the system a C. Ontarians are sending the message there is room for
improvement," he finished.
Highlights:
- 56% approve of back to work legislation; 53% oppose lifting caps on class sizes
- Most Ontarians, 51%, side with teachers in the ongoing labour dispute
- In areas affected by the strike (905 and North) support for teachers is higher (66%)
- Ontarians grade the public education system a B at 38% with C at 25%
- 51% say teachers are being paid the right amount
-30For more information:
David Valentin, (613) 698-5524 - david@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Available for interview from Toronto:
Quito Maggi, quito@mainstreettechnologies.ca
Details
The poll surveyed a random sample of 2,553 Ontario residents by Smart IVR on May 25th, 2015.
Mainstreet polled a mixture of home phones and cell phones.
About Mainstreet Technologies
Mainstreet Technologies is a national public research firm. With 20 years of political experience at all
three levels of government, President and CEO Quito Maggi is a respected commentator on Canadian
public affairs.
Differentiated by its large sample sizes, Mainstreet has provided accurate snapshots of public opinion,
having predicted a majority NDP government in Alberta (2015), a majority Liberal government in
British Columbia, and a majority Liberal government in Ontario. Most recently, Mainstreet was the most
accurate pollster of Novembers Toronto mayoral election and Februarys by-election in Sudbury.

High School Teachers in Durham region, Peel Region and Sudbury are currently on
strike as teachers unions negotiate a new labour agreement with the province.
How closely have you been following this story?
5%
8%

33%

Very Closely
Somewhat Closely
Not Too Closely
Not At All Closely
Not Aware

17%

37%

BREAKDOWNS
VERY CLOSELY
SOMEWHAT CLOSELY
NOT TOO CLOSELY
NOT AT ALL CLOSELY
NOT AWARE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64

38% 45% 22%
34%
31%
43%
11%
20% 20%
5%
2%
11%
11%
1%
5%
253
538
868

VERY CLOSELY
SOMEWHAT CLOSELY
NOT TOO CLOSELY
NOT AT ALL CLOSELY
NOT AWARE
SAMPLE

North
36%
45%
9%
8%
2%
242

65+
22%
44%
15%
16%
3%
894

Male
33%
38%
15%
8%
5%
1261

Female
33%
36%
18%
7%
5%
1292

East SW SC 905
30% 27% 29% 41%
35% 34% 35% 41%
21% 23% 22% 8%
9% 8% 6%
8%
7% 6% 3%
6%
489 274 416 479

416
31%
36%
19%
9%
6%
653

Ontario is introducing back to work legislation to end the ongoing strikes. The
government says this is necessary to save the school year while teachers charge
the government would rather legislate than negotiate. Do you approve or
disapprove of back to work legislation to end the teachers strike?
3%

29%
45%

Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure

11%
11%

BREAKDOWNS
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64

45% 45% 39%
11%
23%
11%
12%
13%
8%
38% 32% 26%
5%
3%
7%
253
538
868

STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

North
29%
11%
14%
43%
4%
242

East
51%
11%
11%
23%
4%
489

65+
56%
9%
14%
11%
2%
894

Male
43%
11%
12%
31%
4%
1261

Female
48%
11%
11%
27%
3%
1292

SW SC 905 416
57% 54% 32% 48%
12% 11% 10% 11%
9% 10% 13% 12%
19% 21% 42% 25%
3% 3% 3% 4%
274 416 479 653

One issue in the negotiations is class size caps. School boards want to lift class
size caps to allow larger classes which they say is necessary for flexibility, teachers
are opposed and say larger classes threaten the education of students. Do you
approve or disapprove of lifting class size caps?
15%

13%

19%

37%

Strongly Approve
Somewhat Approve
Somewhat Disapprove
Strongly Disapprove
Not Sure

16%

BREAKDOWNS
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
STRONGLY APPROVE
SOMEWHAT APPROVE
SOMEWHAT DISAPPROVE
STRONGLY DISAPPROVE
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

5%
14%
17% 20%
20% 16%
18% 23%
18%
10%
22% 15%
29% 52% 35% 28%
29%
8%
7% 14%
253
538
868 894
North
11%
22%
14%
36%
17%
242

East
15%
18%
16%
37%
13%
489

SW
15%
18%
17%
35%
14%
274

Male
14%
18%
16%
38%
14%
1261
SC
16%
18%
17%
35%
15%
416

Female
13%
19%
16%
37%
15%
1292
905
11%
19%
14%
40%
16%
479

416
14%
19%
18%
36%
13%
653

From everything you have seen, heard or read, whose side do you favor: the
teachers, or the provincial government?

7%
7%

The Teachers

10%

The Provincial Government

Both Equally
Neither
Not Sure
24%

BREAKDOWNS
THE TEACHERS
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
BOTH EQUALLY
NEITHER
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64

61%
58% 42%
11%
23% 36%
11%
8%
10%
12%
7%
3%
5%
4%
10%
253
538
868

THE TEACHERS
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
BOTH EQUALLY
NEITHER
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

North
66%
17%
9%
3%
5%
242

East
44%
28%
10%
11%
7%
489

65+
38%
31%
13%
8%
10%
894
SW
41%
31%
12%
9%
7%
274

Male
53%
23%
10%
7%
7%
1261
SC
42%
30%
10%
10%
7%
416

Female
49%
26%
11%
7%
7%
1292
905
66%
16%
9%
4%
6%
479

416
47%
26%
11%
8%
7%
653

And, from everything you have seen, heard or read do you think, on average,
public school teachers in Ontario are paid too much, too little, or about the right
amount?
10%

Too Much
Too Little
Right Amount
Not Sure

19%

BREAKDOWNS
TOO MUCH
TOO LITTLE
RIGHT AMOUNT
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
TOO MUCH
TOO LITTLE
RIGHT AMOUNT
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

14% 24%
21% 26%
20% 26%
15% 12%
54% 46% 55% 48%
13%
4%
9% 14%
253
538
868 894
North
19%
23%
47%
10%
242

East
21%
18%
51%
10%
489

SW
23%
15%
52%
10%
274

Male
20%
19%
50%
10%
1261
SC
23%
16%
50%
10%
416

Female
21%
19%
52%
9%
1292
905
18%
23%
50%
9%
479

416
21%
17%
52%
10%
653

And if you had to assign a grade of A, B, C, D or F, where A is excellent and F is

very poor, how would you grade the quality of the public school system in
Ontario?

10%

38%

BREAKDOWNS
A
B
C
D
F
NOT SURE
SAMPLE
A
B
C
D
F
NOT SURE
SAMPLE

25%

15%

18-34 35-49 50-64 65+

14%
14%
5%
7%
51%
35% 30% 36%
10% 28% 37% 25%
20%
11%
17% 9%
5%
5%
6%
7%
8%
6%
16% 4%
253
538
868 894
North
11%
44%
21%
12%
2%
10%
242

East
9%
35%
26%
17%
7%
6%
489

SW
9%
34%
28%
16%
9%
5%
274

6% 7%

Male
10%
38%
26%
14%
5%
6%
1261
SC
9%
35%
29%
15%
8%
4%
416

Female
10%
38%
23%
15%
6%
7%
1292
905
12%
43%
20%
14%
3%
8%
479

416
10%
37%
25%
14%
6%
7%
653

SCRIPT
Q1. High School Teachers in Durham region, Peel Region and Sudbury are currently on strike as teachers
unions negotiate a new labour agreement with the province. How closely have you been following this
story?
Very closely
Somewhat closely
Not too closely
Not at all closely
Not aware of this story
Q2. Ontario is introducing back to work legislation to end the ongoing strikes. The government says this
is necessary to save the school year while teachers charge the government would rather legislate than
negotiate. Do you approve or disapprove of back to work legislation to end the teachers strike?
Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Not sure
Q3. One issue in the negotiations is class size caps. School boards want to lift class size caps to allow
larger classes which they say is necessary for flexibility, teachers are opposed and say larger classes
threaten the education of students. Do you approve or disapprove of lifting class size caps?
Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Not sure
Q4. From everything you have seen, heard or read; whose side do you favor: the teachers, or the
provincial government?
Teachers
The provincial government
Both equally
Neither
Not sure

SCRIPT (CONT.)
Q5. And, from everything you have seen, heard or read do you think, on average, public school teachers
in Ontario are paid too much, too little, or about the right amount?
Too much
Too little
About the right amount
Not sure
Q6. And if you had to assign a grade of A, B, C, D or F, where A is excellent and F is very poor, how would
you grade the quality of the public school system in Ontario?
A
B
C
D
F
Not sure